| Basically a bead refers to a decorative, small object | | | | shoes evoke a feeling of richness, luxury, and glamour. |
| that is pierced for threading or stringing. They can | | | | Primarily these are the intricate patterns, the bead |
| range in size from 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter to | | | | color matching, and the fine craftsmanship. However, |
| just under 1 millimetre (0.039 in). Beads have been used | | | | the knowledge of how much work went into each |
| for thousands of years already, but have also been | | | | beaded shoe also evokes a sense of gratitude. You |
| popular on footwear for many decades as well. The | | | | can not help feeling grateful for being able to wear |
| most common bead materials are metals, stones, | | | | such a beautiful pair of shoes when you think of how |
| glass, and plastics. This may leave you wondering how | | | | someone painstakingly labored over what is literally a |
| vintage beaded shoes have changed in terms of | | | | piece of art. |
| footwear fashion. | | | | These days, beaded shoes are mostly made by |
| Any vintage shoe lover will immediately see the value | | | | high-tech equipment, automated systems, and heavy |
| of a beaded item. It does not really matter whether it is | | | | machinery. You will probably not be able to find a shoe |
| a jacket, a pair of pants, or shoes. It is sufficient just to | | | | brand that still employs traditional hand beading |
| admire the amount of time and effort that goes into | | | | methods. Simply they have been forced to convert to |
| the skilled art of hand beading. This process alone | | | | automated beading in order to remain competitive. |
| dramatically increases the worth of that piece of | | | | Although the sense of gratitude is lost somewhat, |
| clothing. When you see an item that has been really | | | | luckily modern beaded footwear can be bought at a |
| beautifully beaded, you will instinctively understand why | | | | fraction of the cost compared to vintage footwear. |
| they are prized and valued so highly. | | | | This means that many more people are able to afford |
| There are many details that make vintage beaded | | | | beaded shoes, which of course is a good thing. |